Jerry Brown Under Further Pressure to Release Gubernatorial Records

Whitman Campaign Petitions for Disclosure,

 www.WhatsBrownDone.com Sounds Same Theme

 

He claims to be willing to release his records if you ask nicely, but the people of California shouldn’t have to say, ‘Pretty please?”

– Tim Murtaugh, Republican Governors Association

As reported by CaliforniaWatch.org, an initiative of the nonpartisan Center for Investigative Reporting, the campaign of Republican candidate for governor of California Meg Whitman has issued a letter to Attorney General Jerry Brown, formally requesting that he release the official records from his two terms as governor three decades ago.  Earlier this week, the Republican Governors Association launched a website, www.WhatsBrownDone.com, which examines Brown’s time in public life, but also invites voters to sign a petition calling on him to fully disclose the documents from 1975 to 1983 for all to see.  Those papers are under seal until 2038 unless Brown voluntarily releases them. 

“Jerry Brown’s record in public life includes raising taxes, mismanaging budgets, stifling job growth and increasing unemployment,” said Tim Murtaugh, spokesman for the Republican Governors Association.  “He claims to be willing to release his records if you ask nicely, but the people of California shouldn’t have to say, ‘Pretty please?’”
 

An online petition calls on Brown to release his gubernatorial documents so citizens can examine his entire record, since he has hidden behind California’s Public Records law, which contains a clause apparently designed for him.  The online petition allows residents to urge Brown to disclose whatever it is that he is keeping secret.

In 1988 Brown’s records were sealed for 50 years and are currently “under lock and key” at the University of Southern California (NBC Bay Area, January 22, 2010).  Following a years-long battle between Brown and California’s Secretary of State over the issue of ownership of the papers, the state legislature approved an amendment to the Public Records law that exempted governors who served between 1974 and 1988 (Contra Costa Times, January 21, 2010).  Curiously, Brown’s two terms occupy most of that time span.  Brown can voluntarily waive the restriction.
  

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